Abstract: In a power control device for a vehicle, a monitoring control device 2 disposed separately from a power converter 1 judges normality/abnormality of the power converter 1, and sets an abnormality-occurrence electric generation switching signal 4 to ON/OFF, whereby a first electric generation control function corresponding to an output of power element driving signal generating means is forcedly stopped, and also a second electric generation control function based on a diode rectifying mode of a power element is started.

Abstract: Control procedure for a flow machine, wherein the flow machine comprises a turbine, which picks up power from a wind or water current, and a driveline, which transfers power from the turbine to an electric generator connected to an electricity grid of constant grid frequency. A power distribution transmission arranged on the input side of the driveline splits power to first and second power branches. A hydrodynamic convefler connects the first and second power branches on the output side of the driveline and the first power branch drives the electric generator with constant speed. The reaction member of the hydrodynamic converter is set to a constant position for a turbine speed below a chosen threshold and above the threshold the reaction member is controlled to maintain a medium speed of the turbine being a function of the momentum picked up by the turbine.

Abstract: A wind turbine generator including a nacelle having reduced size and weight is provided. The wind turbine generator includes a nacelle disposed on a tower. The nacelle includes a main shaft that is connected to a rotor head equipped with blades and that integrally rotates with the rotor head, a gearbox that increases the rotational speed of the main shaft and that outputs the resulting rotational speed, and a generator driven by the output from the gearbox. In the wind turbine generator, a drivetrain extending from the main shaft to the generator via the gearbox is disposed in the rotor head.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter has a plurality of diverse type DC-DC converter channels whose outputs are combined to provide a composite DC power output to a load. One of the channels is a high efficiency power path that supplies the average current demand of the load. A second channel comprises a fast transient response power path which handles transient response demands.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aggregating power from multiple sources generates a single direct current regulated voltage. The apparatus comprises a plurality of slave voltage converters and a master pulse width modulator circuit. Providing a plurality of direct current power sources, current is drawn through a plurality of lines connected to the plurality of direct current power sources. An open circuit voltage for each direct current power source is unknown. Each line of the plurality of lines has a line resistance. The line resistance of at least some of the plurality of lines may be unknown. The line resistance of at least some of the plurality of lines is large. The single direct current regulated voltage is generated from the drawn current.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an uninterruptible power supply, more specifically, to an uninterruptible power supply for the backup of AC-power supply which comprises an electric double layer capacitor as an energy storage device. The uninterruptible power supply according to the present invention comprises an AC power source, a AC/DC converter which converts an AC input from the AC power source into an DC power, an energy storage device which stores an extra electric energy and a DC/AC inverter which converts DC input from the energy storage device into AC power and supplies the AC power to an output load at a power interruption, wherein the energy storage device is an electric double layer capacitor and a ratio of charging voltage of the electric double layer capacitor to a minimum operating voltage of the DC/AC inverter is adjusted to 1.3 times or higher.

Abstract: A power supply for point-of-sale (POS) devices. The power supply comprises a transformer with first through fourth windings. An AC input is connected through a backfeed relay to the first winding. An AC output is also connected to the first winding. A battery and an inverter are connected to the second winding. A charger is connected to the third winding. A rectifier, DC/DC regulator and a DC output are connected to the fourth winding. When AC power is received at the AC input, the AC output and the transformer receive the AC power through the backfeed relay. The DC output receives DC power through the DC/DC regulator and the rectifier, which receives AC power through the transformer. When AC power is not received at the AC input, the battery and the inverter provide AC power to the transformer, and the AC output and the rectifier receive AC power from the transformer. The DC output receives DC power through the DC/DC regulator and the rectifier.

Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system includes an AC power input configured to receive AC power from a single-phase AC power source or a multi-phase AC power source, a DC power source, an output circuit including a power output, a controllable switch configured to selectively couple at least one of the AC power input and the DC power source to the output circuit, and a processor coupled and configured to affect operation of the output circuit depending upon which of single-phase and multi-phase operation of the UPS is indicated.

Abstract: A backup power supply for a telephone set that does not use batteries comprises a Electric Double Layer Capacitor (“EDLC”) having a charge capacity sufficient to power the control electronics of the set in the event of a power failure and for the brief period of time necessary for the telephone to go off-hook and thereby draw sufficient power from the local loop of a Telco or PBX to place or receive voice calls and recharge the EDLC. The power supply includes circuitry for detecting an incoming call or an instruction to place an outgoing call during a power outage, and for responsively coupling the power of the capacitor to the electronics of the set so that the set can receive or place the call. The power supply further includes circuitry for recharging the capacitor rapidly from both the conventional power supply when it is functioning and from the local service loop when it is not.

Abstract: The positive half-cycle for an ac input signal is applied to a wave rectifier (20, 22), a filter (41) and a voltage regulator (30, 31) for generating a dc output signal. The ac input signal is also applied to a transistor (50) in either the common emitter or common source configuration which shifts the ac input signal by 180 degrees. This signal is then applied to another rectifier (21, 23) for converting the shifted ac input signal into a pulsating dc output signal. Then shifted dc output signal is applied to a second capacitor filter to reduce the signal variations. The final stage for the second output stage is also a voltage regulator (32, 33) (i.e., two series zener diodes). The transformerless power supply produces either a dual positive or dual negative dc voltage supply. In addition, the voltage supply circuits may include a relay voltage, which may be controlled by a control circuit.

Abstract: A method for conversing battery power for a battery-optimized system-on-a-chip begins by sensing for presence of an alternate power source. The processing continues, when the presence of the alternate power source is detected, a first control loop of a first DC-to-DC converter is disabled and a second control loop of a second DC-to-DC converter is enabled to produce a supply voltage for the system-on-a-chip. The first DC-to-DC converter, when enabled, converts a battery voltage into a supply voltage and the second DC-to-DC converter, when enabled, converts voltage from the alternate power source into the supply voltage.

Abstract: An automatic transfer switch (ATS) system and method of operating an ATS system are disclosed. The ATS system includes at least one input port capable of being coupled to at least one power source to receive an input power, a first internal component that requires internal power satisfying a first criterion in order to properly operate, and a power converter such as a switch mode power supply that is coupled to the first internal component and to the at least one input port. The power converter is capable of receiving the input power by way of the at least one input port and converting the input power into the internal power to be provided to the first internal component. The internal power provided by the power converter satisfies the first criterion, even though at least one characteristic of the input power varies within a range.

Abstract: A distance extender (100, 200) for increasing a distance between a first device (145) and a second device (150) in electrical communication with the first device includes an electrical cable (130, 230) electrically coupled between the first device and the second device, a first subsystem (110, 210) electrically coupled to the first end of the electrical cable, and a second subsystem (120, 220) electrically coupled to the second end of the electrical cable. The electrical cable includes a first end (131, 231), a second end (132, 232), and a plurality of wires extending between the first end and the second end. The plurality of wires includes a first wire, the first device generates a data signal and provides an electrical power signal, and the data signal and the electrical power signal are simultaneously transmitted between the first device and the second device over the first wire.

Abstract: In a Y linear driving mechanism 6 for moving an X linear driving mechanism 8 in a direction Y by a linear motor comprising a stator 16 and a moving element 17, there is provided a drive transmission portion which is connected to the moving element 17 so as to transmit a driving force of the moving element 17, acting in the direction Y, through a moving plate 18 and a connecting member 25. A first air gap G1 is formed between the moving element 17 and the moving plate 18, and a second air gap G2 is formed between the moving plate 18 and the connecting member 25. With this construction, the transfer of heat from the moving element 17 is interrupted in an operating condition, so that troubles, caused by the thermal expansion and contraction due to heat generated by the linear motor, can be prevented.

Abstract: A brushless motor 100 is composed of a motor base 10, a rotary shaft 25 rotatably supported by the motor base 10 through bearings 22 and 23, a back yoke 20 in a shape of flat plate made from a magnetic material being supported by the motor base 10 from one surface of the back yoke in a direction perpendicular to the rotary shaft 25 in a neighborhood of the rotary shaft 25, a plurality of driving coils 31 disposed on another surface of the back yoke 20 opposite to the one surface confronting with the motor base 10 and a rotor yoke 28 having a driving magnet 24 in the shape of ring integrally rotating together with the rotary shaft 25 while confronting the driving magnet 24 with the plurality of driving coils 31 with maintaining a prescribed gap G between them, wherein the plurality of driving coils 31 are disposed on the back yoke 20 around the rotary shaft 25 at angular intervals of a prescribed angle, and wherein the back yoke 20 is provided with a not disposed angular area S in which no driving coil 31 is d

Abstract: A braking magnet is attached to the housing of a motor of a motorized component such as a window covering. With this structure the motor is braked from turning under the weight of the window covering when deenergized.

Abstract: In an axial fan, a case (40) accommodating the fan motor stator (50) is anchored into a bearing retainer (10), in which ball bearings (20, 21) as a bearing unit are accommodated, along a bulge part (13) formed on the lower end portion thereof. The case (40) extends heading axially downward, wherein there is no diametrical overlap between the ball bearings (20, 21) and the stator (50). Since only the bulge part (13) of the bearing retainer (10) is fixed to the case (40), heat arising from the stator (50) is thermally conveyed via the case (40) only to the bulge part (13). The fact that the thermal conveyance zone is minimal enables unrestrained curtailment of heat transmitted to the ball bearings (20, 21). As a result the axial fan can be designed for prolonged bearing lifespan.

Abstract: An electric machine having a stator assembly that includes a stator core and a coil supported by the stator core and a rotor assembly that includes a shaft and a rotor supported by the shaft that is in magnetic interaction with the stator core. The electric machine may include a single sensor configured to detect magnetic polarities of the rotor as the rotor rotates relative to the sensor and to generate a signal representing the detected magnetic polarities of the rotor. The signal and an inverted version of the signal are utilized to control current through the coil. The current may be controlled indirectly by controlling the application of voltage to the coil. The sensor may be encapsulated on a circuit board to positively position the sensor relative to the circuit board. The circuit board may be mounted to a bearing housing of the electric machine. The sensor may be received in a pocket of a bearing housing of the electric machine so the sensor is positively positioned relative to the rotor.

Abstract: A rotary electric machine comprises a rotating shaft rotatably supported by bearings, a rotor attached integrally with the shaft and a stator facing the rotor. The stator includes a plurality of coils arranged substantially in a circular form in a rotating direction of the shaft. The rotor includes a circular-disc rotor yoke made of a ferromagnetic material, such as iron. Depressed and raised portions on a surface of the rotor yoke facing the stator, except for the center portion, are arranged in a circumferential direction of the rotor yoke. N-pole and S-pole magnets are alternately arranged in the depressed portions. Therefore, in addition to torque generated by the magnets, reluctance torque is generated between the raised portions on the rotor yoke side and the teeth on the stator side, thus making it possible to increase the range of rotation speeds of the motor.

Abstract: Reinforcing body retainers are formed on an inner peripheral surface near a tip and near a root of first and second claw-shaped magnetic poles. Reinforcing bodies have a trapezoidal base portion and a pair of wing portions formed on two sides of the base portion, and slits are formed completely across a width direction of the base portion at a central portion in a height direction of the trapezoidal shape of the base portion so as to be offset toward a base of the trapezoidal shape. The reinforcing bodies are disposed so as to contact the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second claw-shaped magnetic poles with a magnet housed and supported in each of the wing portions, and a D ring is fitted into the slits of the reinforcing bodies.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a synchronous machine with preferably salient poles with pole windings which are galvanically connected together. The invention further concerns a wind power installation and a method of monitoring a synchronous machine of a wind power installation. The object of the invention is to develop a synchronous machine and a method of operating a synchronous machine, such that the risk of a fire is reduced.

Abstract: A rotating asynchronous converter and a generator device having a first stator connected to a first AC network with a first frequency f1, and a second stator connected to a second AC network with a second frequency f2. The converter has a rotor which rotates in dependence of the first and second frequencies f1, f2. The stators each have at least one winding formed of at least one current-carrying conductor, and an insulation system, formed of semiconducting layers each forming an equipotential surface, and a solid insulation between the semiconducting layers.

Abstract: The invention involves installation of a helical nut structure, or a helical nut and ball or roller bearing structure, between an electric machinery transmission shaft and a driven transmission element. Depending on the torque between the electric machinery rotor, and on the loading or driving direction, the corresponding axial displacement of the electric machinery rotor can be controlled, and further the electric machinery characteristics relative to the electric machinery rotor and the electro-magnetic field can be modulated to achieve a desired control structure or testing device.

Abstract: A stator for a two rotor single stator type electric motor is described. The electric motor has inner and outer rotors that are rotated independently within and around a stator upon application of current to the stator. The stator comprises a stator core including a plurality of stator teeth that are circumferentially arranged around a common axis. Each stator tooth includes a plurality of flat magnetic steel plates that are aligned along the common axis while intimately and closely contacting to one another. The stator further comprises at least one connecting ring plate that is coaxially installed in the stator core in such a manner that the ring plate is intimately put between adjacent two of the flat magnetic steel plates of each stator tooth. The ring plate is of an endless annular member.

Abstract: A vehicular alternator includes a rotor, a stator and a brush device. The rotor includes a rotor coil wound around pole cores and a pair of collector rings electrically connected with the rotor coil. The stator is disposed around an outer periphery of the rotor across an air gap. The brush device contacts the pair of collector rings and feeds current to the rotor coil. The collector rings are made of dissimilar metal materials respectively. Thus, durability of the vehicular alternator can be improved while inhibiting increase in cost and decrease in output.

Abstract: Two conductive polymer films, one of which swells and the other of which shrinks by an oxidation-reduction reaction, are connected to a link mechanism for reciprocally converting shrinkage-directional displacements of one film to swell-directional displacements of the other film, so that driving force in the expansion direction of one conductive polymer film can be generated by driving force in contraction direction of the other conductive polymer film.

Abstract: A tunable machining tool having a plurality of actuator devices, each operating at a uniform frequency but phase shifted by a controllable amount so as to create an vibratory output at a frequency that is a multiple of the input frequency.

Abstract: The vibration wave motor of the present invention comprises a body to be driven, and a plurality of vibrators each of which is provided with a drive contact part contacting the outer surface of the body to be driven, is connected to a base and is disposed around the body to be driven. The base and the body to be driven are reciprocally driven linearly in a state where the longitudinal direction of the vibrator and the driven direction of the body to be driven are matched.

Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator of the present invention is structured such that on a substrate 5 having a cavity 4 formed therein, a lower electrode 3, a piezoelectric body 1, a spurious component control layer 16, and an upper electrode 2 are formed in this order from bottom up. The spurious component control layer 16 is a layer for controlling a spurious frequency, and composed of, for example, a metallic material, a dielectric material, or a piezo electric material. By additionally providing the spurious component control layer 16, it is made possible to cause variation of the spurious frequency due to unwanted variation to become greater than variation in resonance frequency of the main resonance of the piezoelectric resonator. Thus, it is possible to realize a piezoelectric resonator having an admittance frequency response where no spurious component occurs between resonance frequency fr and antiresonance frequency fa.

Abstract: An actuator is disclosed, which includes a piezoelectric bimorph. The actuator also includes a substantially moisture impervious and electrically insulating packaging having a cavity around the bimorph providing for a clearance around the bimorph. The packaging includes a carrier having first and second surfaces and an aperture wherein the bimorph is disposed, the packaging further includes first and second cover films selectively attached to the first and second surfaces respectively, and at least one flex circuit connected to the bimorph for supplying electrical energy thereto.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes an element substrate having a piezoelectric element and an electrically conductive pattern connected to the piezoelectric element, a supporting layer arranged within the periphery of the piezoelectric element, a cover extending so as to provide a groove inside the external periphery of the element substrate, the groove ranging over the entire external periphery of the element substrate by removing a portion of the cover and/or supporting layer inside the external periphery of the element substrate after the cover is arranged on the supporting layer, an insulating reinforcing material that entirely covers portions of the element substrate ranging from the cover to the periphery of a principal surface of the element substrate, and an electrically conductive member electrically connected to the electrically conductive pattern so as to pass through the cover and the reinforcing material.

Abstract: A piezoelectric oscillator includes: a package having a package base, a bottom surface, a conductive cap that seals airtightly an interior space of the package base, and a terminal to perform at least one of inputting a signal from outside of the package and outputting a signal from the outside of the package. The piezoelectric oscillator also includes a piezoelectric oscillating piece disposed in the package and an electronic part disposed in the package. The conductive cap is coupled to the terminal to perform at least one of the inputting of the signal from the outside of the package and the outputting of the signal to the outside of the package. The terminal is provided on the electronic part and a plurality of mounting terminals are provided on the bottom surface of the package and are electrically coupled to the electronic part.

Abstract: An insert terminal containing case includes a bottom wall, four side walls, and an opening at the upper portion, wherein a terminal made of a metal plate is vertically fixed to at least one of the four side walls by insert molding. A groove is vertically arranged at the outer side surface of the side wall fixing the terminal, the groove extending downward, the outer side surface of the terminal is partially exposed at the groove, and the inner side surface opposite the outer side surface of the terminal exposed at the groove is partially exposed at the inner side surface of the side wall. Therefore, when the terminal is provided in the case by insert molding, molding can be performed only using upper and lower dies. Furthermore, the terminal can be reliably exposed at the inner surface of the side wall. The insert terminal containing case has the minimum difference between the opening dimension of the case and the dimension of a piezoelectric diaphragm and is molded without using a sliding die.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention also relates to devices including an electroactive polymer to convert between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer included in a transducer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piezoelectric actuator (1) comprising a stack of a plurality of individual piezoelectric actuator elements (2, 2?, 2?) which are arranged between inner electrodes (3, 3?, 3?). Said piezoelectric actuator comprises a first metallisation strip (4) and a second metallisation strip (5), the inner electrodes (3, 3?, 3?) being respectively connected to the first or second metallisation strips (4, 5) in an alternating manner. A first outer electrode (6) and a second outer electrode (7) are fixed to the first or the second metallisation strips (4, 5) in order to electrically contact the piezoelectric actuator (1). Said outer electrodes (6, 7) respectively comprise a connection element (8, 9) for externally contacting the piezoelectric actuator (1), and at least one region which is embodied in such a way that it compensates length variations of the piezoelectric actuator (1) in the main oscillation direction (10) as a result of its design and arrangement.

Abstract: A top-emitting OLED display that includes a substrate; an array of OLED light emissive elements formed over the substrate; an encapsulating cover located over the OLED light emissive elements; and a circular light polarizer located between the encapsulating cover and the OLED light emissive elements. The present invention has the advantage that it improves the contrast and robustness of an OLED display by protecting the circular light polarizer from environmental wear and enables the application of additional structures on the top of the encapsulating cover.

Abstract: A spark plug has an elongated body of substantially circular cross-section with a center axis. A wedge shaped center electrode extends from one end of the body and a wedge shaped ground electrode is arranged in close proximity to the center electrode. Each of the electrodes includes an elongated knife edge. The knife edges extend radially with respect to the center axis but lie in different parallel planes that are perpendicular to the axis. The two knife edges of the electrodes are spaced apart from each other and extend perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: A dielectric barrier discharge type low pressure discharge lamp 11 includes dielectric barrier discharge type external electrodes 21, 22 on external ends of a tubular glass lamp vessel 10, electrically conductive material layers 31, 32 on the external surface of the tubular glass lamp vessel, and heat equalizing members 41, 42, which are provided on the electrically conductive material layer. With the constitution, the surface temperature of the external electrodes 21, 22 can be equalized with a local temperature rise avoided, thereby a longer life of the lamp can be assured.

Abstract: A flat display panel (MPDP) of the emissive plasma pixel element type for scanned television image reproduction is disclosed yielding bright, efficient and rugged displays for TV applications by use of MEMS and VLSI technology for fabrication. The invention takes a commplete system approach towards designing a high efficiency television display of the mini type for portable applications. A main objective of the present invention is to overcome problems inherent in X-Y matrix scanning of the picture elements in a flat display screen. A simplified addressing method eliminates the need for conventional X-Y matrix addressing of 1200 conductors. By means of the invention a gaseous electric discharge causes a visible light pixel to move progressively and recurrently along a series of adjacent electrodes by application of voltage impulses so as to achieve interlaced scanning. Improved construction technology to achieve very small pixel elements is a feature of the inventive struture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluorescent lamp for the illumination of plants, having a tubular discharge vessel, two electrodes which are fused in a gastight manner into the ends of the discharge vessel, a fill comprising at least a noble gas and mercury, and a phosphor coating on the inner wall of the vessel, the phosphor coating at least including a europium-doped barium magnesium aluminate phosphor of the BaMgAl10O17:Eu type and a cerium- and terbium-doped gadolinium zinc magnesium pentaborate phosphor of the Gd(Zn,Mg)B5O10:Ce,Mn type, and, to generate light with as high a light yield as possible and with a color temperature of between 4000 and 5500 K, the phosphor coating additionally includes an antimony- and manganese-doped calcium halophosphate phosphor of the Ca10(PO4)6(F,Cl)2:Sb,Mn type. This novel phosphor coating allows the light yield to be increased by 10% if the proportion by weight of the individual phosphors is optimized.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical microwave vacuum tube device is disclosed. The device consists of a cathode formed on a substrate, the cathode comprising electron emitters. A cathode emission control grid is also attached to the device substrate. The device further includes an output structure where amplified microwave power is removed from the device. In the device, the cathode surface and the grid surface are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the substrate. One of either the cathode, the grid, or both the cathode and the grid, are attached to the device substrate by one or more flexural members. The device further comprises an anode that is substantially parallel to the cathode surface and the grid surface.

Abstract: A structure is provided which facilitates manufacturing of a flat type image display element which includes electrodes capable of enhancing the display efficiency with an extremely small control electrode current using a cathode material which can obtain a sufficient intensity of electron emission in a low electric field. A structure is provided in which control electrodes and cathodes are formed substantially on a the plane on a first panel, while control electrode lines which electrically connect the control electrodes of a plurality of pixels are not included in the plane which is parallel to a phosphor screen panel and includes the cathodes and the control electrodes.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent display device includes a substrate, a first electrode formed on the substrate, an organic layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the organic layer. The organic layer includes an organic emission layer and an organic material layer, and the organic material layer has a surface with a roughness in a range of Rms 11 ? to 50 ?.

Abstract: An organic EL display and a fabrication method high in light extraction efficiency are disclosed, wherein a plurality of organic layers interposed between an emissive layer and a reflective layer can be collectively formed for a plurality of subpixels, thereby reducing the number of mask processes for a lower fabrication cost and higher productivity. The organic EL display comprises a plurality of organic EL cells classified into at least three types of blue light emission, green light emission and red light emission, each including a plurality of organic layers having an emissive layer, a reflective electrode deposited on the first main surface of the organic layers and a transparent electrode deposited on the second main surface of the organic layer. The organic EL cells for green light emission and red light emission have an optical transparent conductive film interposed between the reflective electrode and the organic layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of lamps. An incandescent electric lamp comprises a bulb (100), current-conducting supply wires (103, 104), a filament (105) having turns (A to H) arranged in spiraling fashion around an axis of revolution (102), one end (105a) of the filament being connected to the conductor wire (103), a metal support (108) of which one end (108a) is connected to the conductor wire (104) and the other end (108b) is connected to the other end (105b) of the filament, and a metal bracket (109) which is in electrical contact with one of the ends or one of the turns of the filament and which comprises a substantially straight portion parallel to the axis of revolution of the filament and situated below the filament when the lamp is in its normal operating position. The metal bracket is, for example, at the potential of the end (105a).

Abstract: A plasma display panel (PDP) with alignment structure. A first alignment pattern is disposed on a rear substrate and formed by a rib structure. A second alignment pattern is disposed on a front substrate disposed opposite, over the rear substrate and corresponds to a space defined by the first alignment pattern. The first and second alignment patterns are disposed outside of the display area of the plasma display panel.

Abstract: A flat fluorescent lamp includes a lamp body and first external electrodes. The lamp body has discharge spaces formed therein. The first external electrodes are disposed at a first end portion of an outer surface of the lamp body and a second end portion that is opposite to the first end portion to define a first region where the discharge spaces overlap the first external electrodes and a second region where the discharge spaces do not overlap the first external electrodes. Each of the discharge spaces has a first width at the first region and a second width that is smaller than the first width at the second region. Therefore, an overlapping region between the first external electrodes and the discharge space increases to lower the discharge voltage.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a flat fluorescent lamp which improves discharge efficiency and luminance with an increase of a current density per discharge channel by forming multiple discharge channels of an independent serpentine layout and an exhaust channel and minimizes non-light emitting regions caused from the external electrode. The flat fluorescent lamp comprises: side walls for forming closed spaces between a front substrate and a rear substrate; partitions formed on the rear substrate and for forming multiple discharge channels of an independent serpentine layout; an exhaust channel formed on the rear substrate, connected to the respective discharge channels and used for vacuum exhaustion or discharge gas injection; and discharge electrodes arranged on both opposite ends of the starting and ending points of the multiple discharge channels of an independent serpentine layout and for discharging the discharge channels in parallel.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measuring cathode fall in fluorescent lamps are disclosed. Together with measurements of cathode temperature, such measurements of cathode fall may inform a determination of cathode heater voltage as a function of discharge current (i.e., a cathode-heating-profile) that avoids both sputtering and excess-evaporation.

Abstract: An electron emission device is provided which has sufficient on/off characteristics and is capable of efficiently emitting electrons with a low voltage. An electron emission device includes a substrate, a cathode electrode, a gate electrode, which are arranged on the substrate, an insulation layer covering the surface of the cathode electrode, and a dipole layer formed by terminating the surface of the insulation layer with hydrogen.